Protecting Your Business From Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity, computer network security or e-security is the protection of networks and computer systems from external and internal information access, destruction of or damage to their electronic data, software or hardware, and from the interruption or misdirection of their services. A wide variety of computer systems are targeted for attack from viruses, spyware, spoofers, malware, and hackers. Some of these attacks may be physical and constitute theft; some may only be informational, such as hacking and destroying data; others may be a combination of the two. The most severe forms of cyber attacks result in the total disruption and destruction of a system, and the safety of an entire network. The conventional ways to defend a computer network from these attacks are to deploy anti-virus and firewalls, use intrusion detection and prevention systems, and update the computer operating system frequently.

It is vital for businesses to safeguard themselves from these risks because of the importance of their work to the economy and because of the potential damage such attacks can cause. There are numerous federal and state laws that address the prevention of unauthorized access. Many state legislatures have passed statutes that impose criminal penalties on those who knowingly and willfully breach network security. Similarly, many companies have implemented measures to prevent or mitigate the risk of an intruder entering a system and stealing confidential information. Many states also have taken steps to develop comprehensive cyber crime laws that include not only those who knowingly and negligently disclose or obtain private information, but also those who attempt or conspire to do so.

In order to protect yourself from the threat of cyber crime, it is important to understand the different kinds of threats and how to guard against them. Among the most significant of these cyber threats is the use of malware and viruses to compromise a network or computer system, typically for the purpose of sending spam or malicious emails to a targeted user. Stealing personally identifiable information, or “hashing,” information (such as the latest bank statement) from a cloud service or other type of storage server may be another serious and well-known form of cyber crime. Similarly, hackers may breach networks to obtain data that would allow them to obtain a variety of illicit goods and services, including identity theft. By educating yourself about the different forms of threats and ways to protect yourself from them, you can greatly reduce the likelihood that your company will become a victim of cyber crimes.